Apparatus for producing a coiled thread package

ABSTRACT

A rotating base plate is provided having a vertical axis, onto which the coiled yarn package is formed. Said base plate is urged upwardly against a rotating depositing disc, the axis of rotation of which is eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the base plate. The depositing disc is carried by a rotating hollow shaft presenting an upper open end, and a radial bore in correspondence of its bottom end integral with the depositing disc. Integral in rotation with the depositing disc there is provided a roller which is caused to bear against the inner track of a fixed ring. The yarn is withdrawn from a suitable supply, passes through the hollow shaft, out of the radial bore, between the roller and the track in their contact zone, and it is hence positively fed, through a bore provided in the depositing disc, onto the base plate, in loops progressing along an annular path, to form a coiled yarn package.

United States Patent [191 Crotti APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A COILED THREAD PACKAGE [75] Inventor: Renato Crotti, Modena, Italy [73] Assignee: Eddybel S. A., Coira, Switzerland [22] Filed: Dec. 13, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 314,522

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 11 June 18, 1974 Primary Examiner-Louis K. Rimrodt Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Larson, Taylor & Hinds [5 7] ABSTRACT A rotating base plate is provided having a vertical axis, onto which the coiled yarn package is formed. Said base plate is urged upwardly against a rotating depositing disc, the axis of rotation of which is eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the base plate. The depositing disc is carried by a rotating hollow shaftpresenting an upper open end, and a radial bore in correspondence of its bottom end integral with the depositing disc. Integral in rotation with the depositing disc there is provided a roller which is caused to bear against the inner track of a fixed ring. The yarn is withdrawn from a suitable supply, passes through the hollow shaft, out of the radial bore, between the roller and the track in their contact zone, and it is hence positively fed, through a bore provided in the depositing disc, onto the base plate, in loops progressing along an annular path, to form a coiled yarn package.

28 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures mmmmam aims-i889 SHE NF 5 minimum 1914 3.8161389 sum 5 or 6 BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the coiling of a substantially continuous length of textile material, in the form of thread, hereinafter generically referred to as yarn. More particularly this invention relates to an apparatus for producing a coiled yarn package by feeding loops of yarn on a collecting base plate in such a manner that the loops progress along a substantially annular path. The formation of such packages is particularly useful, for example, in the dyeing processes of the textile product.

Object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for producing a coiled yarn package, of the type above mentioned, which is very simple in construction and most efficient in operation.

Substantially the apparatus according to the invention comprises a base plate upon which a depositing disc deposits the yarn in loops, there being provided a relative movement between the depositing disc and the base plate, so that the loops progress along an annular path to form successive layers of yarn.

The base plate and the depositing disc are elastically urged the one towards the other, so that the yarn is actually drawn by the combined action of the rotating depositing disc and of the base plate, from which it is clamped while being deposited in loops. This is due to the fact that the underside of the depositing disc, which is constructed with such a diameter as to cover the whole upper surface of the package being formed, has the lowest possible frictional coefficient, while the base plate and the upper surface of the package being formed present a higher degree of adhesion or sticking capacity with respect to the said frictional resistance generated by the underside of the depositing disc.

One important feature of the invention consists in having realized a device for positively feeding the yarn to a through bore provided in the depositing disc, so that the yarn is deposited on the base plate at the exact speed which is required by the drawing action of the depositing disc and associated base plate. This device has been constructed in a very simple and efficient manner, by providing, immediately above and as near as possible to the bore in the depositing disc, an idle roller which is integral in rotation with the depositing disc, and cooperates with its outer revolving surface with a circular track which is fixed with respect to the depositing disc. The yarn is guided onto this roller, so as to be clamped between the roller and the contacting track, and upon rotation of the disc is thus drawn by the combined action of the revolving roller and of the fixed track, and it is fed to the through bore in the depositing disc at the exactly required speed.

It is apparent that complex mechanical devices for feeding the yarn are avoided, such as for example those employing gear transmissions, which are not always effective and are easily subject to failure or malfunctioning. Moreover, those feeding mechanisms are avoided which necessarily require the presence of rotating or sliding parts onto the surface of the package being formed, other than the low friction underside of the depositing disc.

The apparatus according to the invention is therefore particularly suitable for the coiling of smooth and stiff yarns, such as those made of synthetic fibers, where the drawing force exerted by the action of the depositing disc and of the base plate is not always sufficient to avoid the slipping of the smooth fiber on the surface of the package being formed, due to the lesser coefficient of adhesion or stickiness inherent to these types of ii bers. In these cases, the positive feeding of the yarn, immediately in proximity of the depositing point, is extremely important, and essential to the formation of th desired package.

These and other features of the invention will be clearly understood from the following description of some preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows in side elevation an apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a view, in side elevation and with parts in section, of a particular of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the particular shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view, in side elevation and with parts in section, of a particularof the apparatus of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the particular shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view in side elevation and with parts in section of a modified embodiment: of a feeding device according to the invention.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the feeding device shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a view in side elevation and with parts in section of another modified embodiment of the feeding device according to the invention.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the feeding device shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 shows a particular of the yarn feeding device according to the invention.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show diagrammatically two different patterns of deposition of the yarn as effected by the apparatus according to the invention.

GENERAL OPERATION OF THE APPARATUS Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 12 and 13 show two typical patterns of formation of the coiled thread package which can be produced by the apparatus according to the invention. As it can be clearly seen, the thread is deposited in an annular formation of superposed loops, in which each loop progresses along a circular path having as center the center of the annular formation. In FIG. 12 there is shown the pattern of formation of a single layer of a package P, in which the diameter D of each loop is greater than the radius R of the package, while in FIG. 13 the diameter D of the loops of the package P is lesser than the radius R of the package itself.

Basically, the formation of this type of package can be accomplished in two ways. According to a first mode of operation, a rotating thread depositing member is provided having a fixed axis of rotation, from which the thread is deposited in circular rings. Since however also the surface onto which the thread is deposited is rotating about an axis which is eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the depositing member, the thread will be deposited onto the receiving surface in loops which progress along an annular path, as shown in FIGS. 12 or 13.

According to the second mode of operation, the receiving surface does not rotate, while the thread depositing member, besides rotating about its own axis, rotates also about a fixed axis which is eccentrically arranged with respect to its above mentioned axis of rotation, i.e., the axis of rotation of the thread depositing member rotates about a fixed spaced-apart axis, which coincides with the center of the package.

DESCRIPTION OF A FIRST PREFERRED EMBODIMENT (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus for producing a coiled thread package according to the invention comprises a supporting structure having a base portion 1 and a vertical supporting column 2. A thread package 3 in the form of a cone is mounted on the base 1. The thread package 3 is made of suitable textile material in the form of thread, such as yarn. Yarn F is withdrawn from the package 3 and passes through a vertical thread guide 4 and an inclined thread guide 5, both attached to the vertical column 2, and after passing through the yarn depositing device (generally designated as 6) is deposited on a base plate 7. The plate 7 rotates (as it will be more fully discussed hereinafter) so that as the yarn is deposited in loops on one portion of plate 7, it is progressively laid out in the form of an annulus to form an annular layer, as shown in FIGS. 12 or 13. Each successive annular layer is formed as a continuation of the preceding layer so that the layers build up continuously with the newest formed layer over the preceding layer. A coiled yarn package indicated at P in FIG. 1 is thus formed.

The base plate 7 is covered on its upper side with a layer 7a of soft resilient material, such as foam rubber, and is carried into rotation by a shaft 8 which is telescopically mounted, axially shiftable but integral in rotation, inside another shaft 9. Shaft 9 is integral to pulley 10 which is driven by a suitable motor M, through shaft 13, pulley 12 and belt 11. Plate 7 is elastically urged upwardly by means of a spring 14 secured to pulley 10 and acting onto the free end of telescoping shaft 8 through rope l6 and pulley 15.

The yarn depositing device 6 (see particularly FIGS. 3 and 4) is supported by an overhanging structure 17 secured to column 2. This overhanging structure 17 is provided with suitable bearings 18 in which there is rotatably supported the vertical hollow shaft 19 which at its upper end 20 is open, while at the opposite lower end it carries integral a depositing plate in the form of a disc 21. In proximity of its lower end, near to the disc 21, the hollow shaft 19 presents further a radial bore 22 which communicates with the cavity at the interior of said shaft. The diameter of disc 21 is such as to always cover, during its rotation, the upper surface of the coiled yarn package being formed on base plate 7.

A radial arm 23 is fixed to shaft 19, in proximity of its lower end. Hinged at the free end of said arm 23 there is provided a lever 24, which carries at its extremity an idle roller 25 which is freely rotatable about a vertical axis. Roller 25 is caused to bear against the inner track 28 of a circular ring 27 which is fixedly secured to the structure 17 and is coaxial with respect to the axis of rotation of the disc 21. Suitable compression spring means 26 ensure that the roller 25 positively bears against the inner track 28 of ring 27.

Onto disc 21, at a suitable predetermined distance from its center, immediately below and in proximity of roller 25, there is provided a through bore 29. The underside of disc 21 presents a surface with the lowest possible friction coefficient. This can be attained in several ways, for example by constructing this surface in highly polished steel or anodized aluminium, or by coating same with polished anti-friction synthetic material, such as Teflon (Registered Trademark).

The distance of the bore 29 on disc 21 from the axis of rotation A of said disc is equal to the radius of the deposited loop of yarn. The axis of rotation A of the depositing disc 21 and B of the base plate 7 are eccentric the one with respect to the other.

Onto shaft 19 there is keyed a pulley 30 which is driven into rotation by motor M through belt 31.

OPERATION OF THE FIRST DESCRIBED EMBODIMENT The operation of the just described embodiment is simple and evident:

As above mentioned, the yarn F from the package 3 is passed through the thread guides 4 and 5, into the open end 20 of hollow shaft 19, along said shaft 19, out of bore 22 of shaft 19, from where it is wound onto roller 25 so as to be clamped in the contact zone between roller 25 and fixed track 28. Hence the yarn is passed through bore 29 between the disc 21 and plate 7. Motor M is then started, and it will be noted that the angular speed of disc 21 is relatively high with respect to the angular speed of rotating base plate 7, due to the different ratios between pulleys 10 and 30. Disc 21 and plate 7 rotate preferably in the same direction. Upon rotation of disc 21, the yarn F clamped between the disc 21 itself and the base plate 7 is deposited on said base plate due to the higher degree of adhesion or sticking capacity of the yarn onto the soft resilient material of the overside of base plate 7 with respect to the frictional resistance generated by the underside of the yarn depositing disc 21. This condition is also fulfilled when the yarn is being deposited onto previously laid layers.

It is most important to note that roller 25, which is practically integral in rotation with disc 21, by travelling onto the fixed track 28 rotates around its axis in such a manner that its peripheral speed is substantially equal to the speed by which the yarn is withdrawn by the combined action of disc 21 and plate 7, as above explained, through bore 29, which is arranged immediately below and in proximity of the point of contact of roller 25 and track 28. Thus yarn F is actually positively fed to bore 29 by the combined action of roller 25 and fixed track 28, i.e., it is fed at the required speed from a point which is very near to the point of actual deposition of the yarn itself. It is also apparent that, by modifying the diameter of the track 28, or by varying the distance of bore 29 from its axis A of rotation, or both, it is possible to positively feed the yarn from the drawing point (as roller 25 and track 28) to the bore 29 at a speed which is slightly higher or lesser than the speed requested by the actual deposition on plate 7, thus obtaining a little tensioning or slackening effect, which DESCRIPTION OF A SECOND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT (FIGS. 2, 5 AND 6) Referring to FIG. 2, where like parts have been designated by the same reference numerals, it can be seen that the yarn F is withdrawn from package 3, passes through guides 4 and 5, and after passing through the yarn depositing device (generally designated as 6) is deposited on a base plate 107, inside collecting can 33 (see particularly FIG. 5). The collecting can 33 is of the type having a cylindrical construction with a movable bottom, which is the base plate 107 onto which the yarn is deposited. Base plate 107 is not rotatable about its axis A, but it is only movable in a vertical direction, and it is urged upwardly, against the depositing disc 21 of the depositing device 6, by means of a spring 32 one end of which bears against the underside of plate 107, while the other end bears onto an inner flange 34 provided on the bottom section 35 of the collecting can 33. It is apparent therefore that the package being formed will cause the downward movement of plate 107 against the action of spring 32. Suitable anchoring means are provided to automatically lock the base plate 107 of the filled can in its lowermost position, so as to be able to take away the can without the danger of spilling over the deposited package.

The said anchoring means consist of a hook member 39, provided on the underside of plate 107, which is intended to cooperate with a hook member 38 provided on a lever 36 which can be actuated from the exterior by pedal 37. It appears evident that when bottom plate 107 will reach its lowermost position, automatically j hook member 39 will engage hook member 38, thus locking the bottom in this position. In order to release the bottom plate 107, it will be sufficient to act on pedal 37, thus releasing the engagement.

The depositing device 6 comprises a circular body 40 rotatably supported by suitable guiding rollers 41 which are mounted freely rotatable on the supporting structure 117 fixed to vertical column 2. Rollers 41 engage with a projecting peripheral rim a corresponding annular groove 42 provided all around the periphery of circular body 40, thus rotatably supporting same. The axis of rotation of body 40 coincides with axis B of the base plate 107 (and can 33). Another annular groove is provided on the periphery of body 40, serving as a groove for driving belt 44 actuated by driving pulley 45.

At the interior of body 40, eccentrically with respect to axis B, there is obtained integrally a circular track 128. Body 40 is further provided with a supporting bracket 43 projecting towards the center of track 128, which bracket presents a bearing member 118 for rotatably supporting hollow shaft 19, the axis A of which coincides with the center of the track 128. Hollow shaft 19 carries at its bottom end the depositing disc 21, integral in rotation therewith, which has a diameter such as to always cover the underlying plate 107, and presents a through bore 29 at a predetermined distance from its center. Further, hollow shaft 19 presents an open trumpet-like upper end and a radial bore 22, while it carries, integral in rotation, a roller hearing against track 128, the whole substantially as described with reference to the first preferred embodiment.

Onto shaft 19 there is keyed pulley 30 which is driven, through belt 31, by pulley 46. Since the length of belt must take up the rotational displacements of shaft 19 (as it will be seen hereafter), a suitable tensioning jockey pulley 47 is provide-d, swingably fixed to column 2.

Pulley 46 is coaxial to pulley 49, which is driven by motor M, through belt 50. A suitable speed reduction unit 48 is provided between pulley 46 and pulley 45.

OPERATION OF THE SECOND DESCRIBED EMBODIMENT The operation of the just described embodiment is simple and evident:

Yarn F is passed, as already described in connection with the first embodiment, from package 3 up to the collecting base plate 107. Motor M is then started, resulting into a fast driving of pulley 46 and a slow driving of pulley 45 preferably in the same direction. Shaft 19 and disc 21 will rotate at sufficiently high speed, and roller 25 will revolve against the inner track 128, thus feeding the yarn F through bore 29 to plate 107. At the same time, circular body 40 will slowly rotate around its axis B, thus causing a rotation, around the same axis B, of the axis A of rotation of hollow shaft 19 and disc 21. This will result into a deposition of the yarn onto the base plate 107, in the desired manner, as above described. It is once more to be noted that base 107 does not rotate, and is movable only in the vertical direction.

MODIFICATIONS Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 there is shown a modified embodiment of the yarn depositing device as adapted for example to the apparatus of FIGS. 2, 5 and 6. In this case the roller 225, instead of bearing against the annular track in a direction towards the exterior, bears against annular track 228 in a direction towards the interior. Annular track 228 is therefore obtained as the outer track of a ring member 227, depending from rotatable carrier body 40. According to this embodiment, the roller 225 is carried by a transversal member 53 provided at one end of two rods 52. The two rods 52 are slidably housed in a block 51, integral in rotation with shaft 19 (and disc 21). The rods 52 extend, in a diametrally opposite direction to roller 225, beyond ring 227, and carry at their end opposite to roller 225, a counterweight 54 to provide for a dynamic balancing of roller 225 against the centrifugal force. The force of adhesion of roller 225 is thus determined simply by the force of springs 55, which is adjustable through suitable adjustment nuts 56, acting on threaded portions of the rods 52. It is evident that the above counterweight dinamic balancing can be adopted also in the case of rollers which bear against the fixed track in a direction towards the exterior, as in the first two embodiment. In the case shown, the yarn F, after coming out from bore 22 is guided in the contact zone between roller 225 and track 228 by a thread guide 57, provided into disc 21 and another thread guide 58 mounted in a fixed position in correspondence of the roller axis.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10,, there is still shown another modification of the depositing device, in which the roller 325 has its axis of rotation lying substantially in a horizontal direction, i.e., in a direction which is perpendicular to the axis A of rotation of the shaft 19 (and disc 21) to which roller 325 is integral in rotation,

so that the centrifugal forces will by no means affect the force by which the roller bears against the track 328. In the example shown, roller 325 is carried at the end of a supporting rod 57 which is hingedly connected at 58 to the rotating hollow shaft 19. The adhesion of roller 325 against track 328 is ensured by the action of a compression spring 59. As it may be seen, the track 328, obtained on the periphery of the fixed circular member 327, is inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of shaft 19 (or to the horizontal plan) and the revolving peripheral surface of roller 325 is correspondingly inclined, so that roller 325 results to be frustroconical in shape. Yarn F, coming out of radial bore 22, is passed onto the roller thread guide 60, secured at 61 onto rod 57, before passing through the contact zone between roller 325 and track 328.

From FIG. 11 it can be seen that, as a general rule, and particularly in cases in which the through bore 29 on disc 21 is slightly beyond the circumference defined by track 28, the lower portion of this track 28 can be inclined in section, as shown at 62, with conicity increasing towards the exterior (or the interior, if the case should be), so as to avoid any possible friction of the yarn F on its way to bore 29 against the track 28 itself.

It is believed that the invention will have been clearly understood from the foregoing detailed description of the preferred embodiments. Changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is accordingly intended that no limitation be implied and that the hereto annexed claims be given the broadest interpretation to which the employed language fairly admits.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for producing a coiled thread package constructed of a substantially continuous length of thread disposed in substantially annular layers forming a coil, each layer being constructed of a series of loops which progress along the annular layer of the coil, said apparatus comprising:

a. a base plate having a substantially vertical axis;

b. a thread depositing plate arranged above said base plate and having a substantially vertical axis, said axis of said depositing plate being arranged eccentrically with respect to the axis of the base plate, said base plate and said depositing plate being capable of relative movement toward and away from each other in vertical direction;

c. means for yieldingly urging the said base plate and the said depositing plate into relative movement towards each other;

(1. means for rotating the said depositing plate around its axis;

e. further means for causing a relative movement between the axis of the depositing plate and the base plate;

f. a through bore on the said depositing plate providing a passage for the thread to be deposited on the base plate;

g. a feeding device for the thread to be deposited on the base plate, said feeding device comprising:

1. thread guiding means integral in rotation with the said depositing plate;

6 2. a circular member arranged immediately above the depositing plate and presenting an annular track which is in fixed position with respect to the axis of said depositing plate and coaxial thereto;

3. a freely rotatable roller supported by means integral in rotation with said depositing plate and caused to bear with its outer revolving peripheral surface against said track, said roller being supported by said supporting means in a position above and in proximity of the said bore in the depositing plate,

whereby the thread coming from a suitable supply is guided by the said thread guiding means so as to pass in the contact zone between the said roller and the said track onto which the roller travels, passes through the bore in the depositing plate and is deposited onto the base plate, upon rotation of the said depositing plate and relative movement between the axis of the depositing plate and the base plate.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thread depositing plate is constructed of a material having the lowest possible frictional coefficient.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thread depositing plate is coated on its underside with a material having the lowest possible frictional coefficient.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thread depositing plate has an underside of highly polished metal.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base plate is covered on its upper side with a layer made of soft resilient material.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the soft resilient material is natural or synthetic foam material.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base plate is covered on its upper side with a textile fab 1'10.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thread depositing plate is constructed as a disc.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the radius of the thread depositing plate is greater than the sum of the radius of the coiled thread package, plus the eccentricity between the axis of the depositing plate and the axis of the base plate.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the radius of the thread depositing plate is equal to the sum of the radius of the coiled thread package plus the eccentricity between the axis of the depositing plate and the axis of the base plate.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base plate is constructed as a disc.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thread depositing plate has such a surface as to always cover the upper surface of the coiled thread package formed on the base plate.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the base plate rotates about its vertical axis, and the depositing plate rotates about a fixed vertical axis.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein:

a. the base plate is constructed as a disc, said disc being yieldingly urged upwardly towards the depositing plate;

b. the depositing plate is constructed as a disc which is not movable in the vertical direction;

c. the means for rotating the said depositing plate around its axis consist of a rotating hollow shaft integral with the upper side of depositing plate and coaxial thereto, said shaft being rotatably supported in a suitable bearing member secured to the supporting structure of the apparatus, said hollow shaft acting also as a thread guide for the thread which enters the open upper end of same and comes out from a bore provided in proximity of the upper surface of the depositing disc;

d. the circular member presenting the annular track is secured to the supporting structure of the apparatus.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base plate is not rotatable about its axis, said axis being a fixed vertical axis, and the axis of the depositing plate rotates around said fixed axis of the said base plate.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein:

a. the base plate is yieldingly urged upwardly;

b. the depositing plate is constructed as a disc which is not movable in the vertical direction;

c. the said depositing plate is carried by a rotating hollow shaft integral with the upper side of the depositing plate and coaxial thereto, said hollow shaft being rotatably supported by a suitable bearing member integral with a carrier body rotatably supported by the supporting structure of the apparatus, whereby rotation of said carrier body causes a rotation of the axis of the depositing disc about the fixed axis of the base plate;

d. the circular member presenting the annular track is secured to the said carrier body.

17. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the base plate constitutes the movable bottom of a collecting can, said movable bottom being urged upwardly by suitable means, means being provided in order to lock the movable bottom whenever same has reached its lowermost position inside the can, whereby spilling of the completed coiled thread package from the can is avoided, when the can is taken off from the apparatus.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, whereby the means for locking the movable bottom of the can in its lowermost position consist of anchoring means pro-.

vided on a lever arranged in correspondence of the bottom section of the can, said anchoring means cooperating with complementary anchoring means provided on the underside of the movable bottom, means being provided for acting onto the said lever for unlocking the bottom whenever desired.

19. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the roller is caused to bear with its outer revolving surface against the track along which it travels by suitable spring means acting on the supporting means of the roller itself.

20. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which suitable counterweights are provided connected to the roller supporting means and arranged in a position diametrally opposite to the said roller, in order to provide a dynamic balancing against the centrifugal force which originates from the rotation of the roller about the axis of the depositing plate.

21. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the roller is located as near as possible to the through bore in the depositing plate.

22. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the roller bears against the annular track in a direction towards the exterior.

23. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the roller bears against the annular track in a direction towards the interior.

24. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the profile of the track is vertical.

25. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the profile of the track is inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of the depositing plate.

26. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the axis of rotation of the roller is vertical.

27. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the axis of rotation of the roller is inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of the depositing plate.

28. An apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the axis of rotation of the roller is substantially horizontal, whereby centrifugal forces do not concur to the adherence of the roller against the track, suitable spring means being provided to this purpose. 

1. An apparatus for producing a coiled thread package constructed of a substantially continuous length of thread disposed in substantially annular layers forming a coil, each layer being constructed of a series of loops which progress along the annular layer of the coil, said apparatus comprising: a. a base plate having a substantially vertical axis; b. a thread depositing plate arranged above said base plate and having a substantially vertical axis, said axis of said depositing plate being arranged eccentrically with respect to the axis of the base plate, said base plate and said depositing plate being capable of relative movement toward and away from each other in vertical direction; c. means for yieldingly urgiNg the said base plate and the said depositing plate into relative movement towards each other; d. means for rotating the said depositing plate around its axis; e. further means for causing a relative movement between the axis of the depositing plate and the base plate; f. a through bore on the said depositing plate providing a passage for the thread to be deposited on the base plate; g. a feeding device for the thread to be deposited on the base plate, said feeding device comprising:
 1. thread guiding means integral in rotation with the said depositing plate;
 2. a circular member arranged immediately above the depositing plate and presenting an annular track which is in fixed position with respect to the axis of said depositing plate and coaxial thereto;
 3. a freely rotatable roller supported by means integral in rotation with said depositing plate and caused to bear with its outer revolving peripheral surface against said track, said roller being supported by said supporting means in a position above and in proximity of the said bore in the depositing plate, whereby the thread coming from a suitable supply is guided by the said thread guiding means so as to pass in the contact zone between the said roller and the said track onto which the roller travels, passes through the bore in the depositing plate and is deposited onto the base plate, upon rotation of the said depositing plate and relative movement between the axis of the depositing plate and the base plate.
 2. a circular member arranged immediately above the depositing plate and presenting an annular track which is in fixed position with respect to the axis of said depositing plate and coaxial thereto;
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thread depositing plate is constructed of a material having the lowest possible frictional coefficient.
 3. a freely rotatable roller supported by means integral in rotation with said depositing plate and caused to bear with its outer revolving peripheral surface against said track, said roller being supported by said supporting means in a position above and in proximity of the said bore in the depositing plate, whereby the thread coming from a suitable supply is guided by the said thread guiding means so as to pass in the contact zone between the said roller and the said track onto which the roller travels, passes through the bore in the depositing plate and is deposited onto the base plate, upon rotation of the said depositing plate and relative movement between the axis of the depositing plate and the base plate.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thread depositing plate is coated on its underside with a material having the lowest possible frictional coefficient.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thread depositing plate has an underside of highly polished metal.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base plate is covered on its upper side with a layer made of soft resilient material.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the soft resilient material is natural or synthetic foam material.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base plate is covered on its upper side with a textile fabric.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thread depositing plate is constructed as a disc.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the radius of the thread depositing plate is greater than the sum of the radius of the coiled thread package, plus the eccentricity between the axis of the depositing plate and the axis of the base plate.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the radius of the thread depositing plate is equal to the sum of the radius of the coiled thread package plus the eccentricity between the axis of the depositing plate and the axis of the base plate.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base plate is constructed as a disc.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thread depositing plate has such a surface as to always cover the upper surface of the coiled thread package formed on the base plate.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the base plate rotates about its vertical axis, and the depositing plate rotates about a fixed vertical axis.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein: a. the base plate is constructed as a disc, said disc being yieldingly urged upwardly towards the depositing plate; b. the depositing plate is constructed as a disc which is not movable in the vertical direction; c. the means for rotating the said depositing plate around its axis consist of a rotating hollow shaft integral with the upper side of depositing plate and coaxial thereto, said shaft being rotatably supported in a suitable bearing member secured to the supporting structure of the apparatus, said hollow shaft acting also as a thread guide for the thread which enters the opeN upper end of same and comes out from a bore provided in proximity of the upper surface of the depositing disc; d. the circular member presenting the annular track is secured to the supporting structure of the apparatus.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base plate is not rotatable about its axis, said axis being a fixed vertical axis, and the axis of the depositing plate rotates around said fixed axis of the said base plate.
 16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein: a. the base plate is yieldingly urged upwardly; b. the depositing plate is constructed as a disc which is not movable in the vertical direction; c. the said depositing plate is carried by a rotating hollow shaft integral with the upper side of the depositing plate and coaxial thereto, said hollow shaft being rotatably supported by a suitable bearing member integral with a carrier body rotatably supported by the supporting structure of the apparatus, whereby rotation of said carrier body causes a rotation of the axis of the depositing disc about the fixed axis of the base plate; d. the circular member presenting the annular track is secured to the said carrier body.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the base plate constitutes the movable bottom of a collecting can, said movable bottom being urged upwardly by suitable means, means being provided in order to lock the movable bottom whenever same has reached its lowermost position inside the can, whereby spilling of the completed coiled thread package from the can is avoided, when the can is taken off from the apparatus.
 18. An apparatus according to claim 17, whereby the means for locking the movable bottom of the can in its lowermost position consist of anchoring means provided on a lever arranged in correspondence of the bottom section of the can, said anchoring means cooperating with complementary anchoring means provided on the underside of the movable bottom, means being provided for acting onto the said lever for unlocking the bottom whenever desired.
 19. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the roller is caused to bear with its outer revolving surface against the track along which it travels by suitable spring means acting on the supporting means of the roller itself.
 20. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which suitable counterweights are provided connected to the roller supporting means and arranged in a position diametrally opposite to the said roller, in order to provide a dynamic balancing against the centrifugal force which originates from the rotation of the roller about the axis of the depositing plate.
 21. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the roller is located as near as possible to the through bore in the depositing plate.
 22. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the roller bears against the annular track in a direction towards the exterior.
 23. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the roller bears against the annular track in a direction towards the interior.
 24. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the profile of the track is vertical.
 25. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the profile of the track is inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of the depositing plate.
 26. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the axis of rotation of the roller is vertical.
 27. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the axis of rotation of the roller is inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of the depositing plate.
 28. An apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the axis of rotation of the roller is substantially horizontal, whereby centrifugal forces do not concur to the adherence of the roller against the track, suitable spring means being provided to this purpose. 